Latest news with #EnergyEfficiencyandConservationAct
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Signify Malaysia advances sustainability goals with smart lighting innovations
KUALA LUMPUR: Signify Malaysia, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is ramping up efforts to support Malaysia's sustainability agenda by promoting smart lighting solutions and forging strategic industry partnerships. Signify Malaysia president Sukanto Aich said the company's commitment aligns with the government's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) 2024, both of which aim to accelerate the country's shift to a greener economy. "At Signify, our vision is to unlock the extraordinary potential of light to create brighter lives and a better world by offering energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions that significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for our customers," he said after launching the Beyond Illumination: Signify Innovation Day 2025 here recently. According to Sukanto, Signify is targeting Net Zero emissions by 2040 and aims to reduce emissions across its value chain by 50 per cent by 2030, compared with 2019 levels. The company's smart lighting innovations include ultra-efficient LED technology that offers up to 30 per cent more energy savings than standard LEDs, as well as 3D-printed luminaires made from recycled materials such as discarded fishing nets. "By switching from conventional lighting to LED, customers can save up to 50 per cent of energy, and by adding smart connected lighting, they can achieve an additional 20 to 30 per cent savings. Lighting alone accounts for around 30 per cent of energy consumption in cities, so reducing this by up to 80 per cent is a major step toward Malaysia's energy transition targets," he said. In addition, Signify is working globally to enhance sustainability efforts, including a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. "This partnership goes beyond marketing. We provide smart connected lighting that helps Mercedes meet its Net Zero goals while also improving the health and well-being of drivers and engineers through innovations like our Nature Connect lighting, which mimics natural daylight to support circadian rhythms," Sukanto added. Meanwhile, Signify Malaysia commercial leader for professional business Iva Lee said the professional lighting business is seeing robust growth due to rising demand for LED conversion, smart connected systems and regulatory compliance. "We're witnessing exciting times in Malaysia with customers across offices, industries and public infrastructure shifting to smart lighting to meet new requirements under the EECA," she said. Iva noted that government incentives such as the Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA) and Green Investment Tax Exemption (GITE) are also encouraging businesses to invest in energy-efficient lighting and solar solutions. "Through our Green Switch Programme, we help customers access these incentives, which can offer benefits of up to 100 per cent tax exemption or solar rental schemes," she said. On renewable energy, Iva highlighted that Signify's investment in solar R&D has resulted in high-performance, longer-lasting lighting solutions with improved battery life. She added that these innovations – including connected systems integrated with Interact City for remote monitoring and optimisation – have helped many customers reduce energy bills and maintenance costs while ensuring performance. Globally, Signify has completed large-scale smart lighting projects, including the upgrade of 150,000 streetlights in Jakarta with its Interact City system. In Malaysia, Melaka's installation of 6,000 connected LED streetlights has cut energy costs by up to 80 per cent, while enhancing public safety and operational efficiency. — BERNAMA
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Signify Malaysia boosts sustainability with smart lighting innovations
KUALA LUMPUR: Signify Malaysia is reinforcing its role in supporting Malaysia's sustainability objectives by introducing advanced smart lighting solutions and forging key industry collaborations. The company, previously known as Philips Lighting, aims to align with the government's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) 2024. Signify Malaysia president Sukanto Aich highlighted the company's commitment to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse emissions. 'Our vision is to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a greener world. Our energy-efficient lighting solutions help customers cut energy use significantly,' he said during the Beyond Illumination: Signify Innovation Day 2025 launch. The company targets Net Zero emissions by 2040, with plans to halve emissions across its value chain by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Innovations include ultra-efficient LED technology, which saves 30 per cent more energy than standard LEDs, and 3D-printed luminaires made from recycled materials like discarded fishing nets. 'Switching to LED can save customers 50 per cent in energy costs, and adding smart connected lighting boosts savings by another 20 to 30 per cent. Since lighting makes up 30 per cent of urban energy use, reducing this by up to 80 per cent supports Malaysia's energy transition,' Sukanto explained. Signify also collaborates globally, including a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. 'This goes beyond marketing—our smart lighting helps Mercedes achieve Net Zero while enhancing driver well-being through innovations like Nature Connect lighting, which mimics natural daylight,' he added. Iva Lee, Signify Malaysia's commercial leader for professional business, noted rising demand for LED and smart lighting due to regulatory compliance. 'Businesses and public infrastructure are shifting to smart lighting to meet EECA requirements,' she said. Government incentives like the Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA) and Green Investment Tax Exemption (GITE) further encourage adoption. 'Our Green Switch Programme helps businesses access these incentives, including full tax exemptions or solar rental schemes,' Iva said. Signify's solar R&D has also led to longer-lasting, high-performance lighting solutions. Connected systems like Interact City enable remote monitoring, reducing energy bills and maintenance. Globally, Signify has upgraded 150,000 streetlights in Jakarta, while Melaka's 6,000 connected LED streetlights have cut energy costs by 80 per cent, improving safety and efficiency. - Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Barnama
Signify Malaysia Enhances National Sustainability Goals With Smart Lighting Innovations
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Signify Malaysia, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is stepping up its efforts to support Malaysia's sustainability agenda by promoting smart lighting solutions and forming strategic industry partnerships. Signify Malaysia president Sukanto Aich said the company's commitment aligns with the government's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) 2024, which aim to accelerate the country's transition to a greener economy. 'At Signify, our vision is to unlock the extraordinary potential of light to create brighter lives and a better world by offering energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions that significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse emissions for our customers,' he told Bernama after launching the Beyond Illumination: Signify Innovation Day 2025 here recently. According to Sukanto, Signify is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040 and plans to reduce emissions across its value chain by 50 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The company's smart lighting innovations include ultra-efficient LED technology that offers up to 30 per cent more energy savings than standard LEDs, as well as 3D-printed luminaires made from recycled materials such as discarded fishing nets. 'By switching from conventional lighting to LED, customers can save up to 50 per cent of energy, and by adding smart connected lighting, they can achieve an additional 20 to 30 per cent savings. Lighting alone accounts for around 30 per cent of energy consumption in cities, so reducing this by up to 80 per cent is a major step toward Malaysia's energy transition targets,' he said. In addition, Signify is collaborating globally to enhance sustainability efforts, including its partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. 'This partnership goes beyond marketing. We provide smart connected lighting that helps Mercedes meet its Net Zero goals while also improving the health and well-being of drivers and engineers through innovations like our Nature Connect lighting, which mimics natural daylight to support circadian rhythms,' Sukanto said. Meanwhile, Signify Malaysia commercial leader for professional business Iva Lee said the professional lighting business is seeing robust growth due to rising demand for LED conversion, smart connected systems and regulatory compliance.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Data centre boom raises energy, sustainability concerns
PETALING JAYA: As data centre projects surge across Malaysia amid the country's digital transformation push, particularly to harness artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors, concerns are growing over energy efficiency and resource sustainability. Malaysian Association of Energy Service Companies president Zulkifli Zahari noted that while media reports cite potential power demands of up to 11,000 megawatts (MW) from data centres, current consumption stands at just 434.5MW. 'It's also been reported that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has received applications from new data centres totalling 11,000MW in power demand,' he told theSun in a written response. However, he warned that the demands on the national power grid over the next 25 years could threaten Malaysia's carbon neutrality goal for 2050. 'The requirement is expected to rise to between 2,000MW and 3,000MW over the next five to 10 years, driven by Malaysia's digital economy. 'Nevertheless, this spike could strain the grid's capacity and undermine the country's net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target,' he cautioned. To address this, TNB is planning to expand selected power plants and implement rapid-generation methods such as co-generation and open-cycle turbines. These efforts are expected to align with government plans to encourage green energy sourcing for future developments, including data centres. Touching on efficiency benchmarks, Zulkifli noted that while many developers are targeting a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2 to 1.4, there are no regulations in Malaysia enforcing this standard. He also pointed out that most local authorities lack the technical capacity to assess data centre applications using PUE metrics. 'There needs to be a formal regulatory approach, potentially under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, to introduce minimum efficiency standards and carbon thresholds. 'Incentives should also be provided to support on-site renewable energy, advanced cooling systems and battery storage,' he added. Zulkifli stressed that Malaysia should not view the growth of data centres as a liability, but as a key component of its energy transition agenda. 'Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for green data centres. But if we delay, we risk losing out to competitors like Indonesia, which can offer geothermal-powered facilities,' he said. Reports have indicated that power demand from data centres could eventually account for up to 40% of Malaysia's installed generation capacity. Last month, Kukup assemblyman Datuk Haji Jefridin Atan voiced concern over the rise in data centre developments in Johor, warning that increased energy and water usage could stretch local utilities. Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia also raised alarm over water consumption, estimating that a 100MW data centre could use up to four million litres of clean water per day. theSun has contacted the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry for comments on the concerns raised, but no response was received at press time.
Malaysian Reserve
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Nik Nazmi: Malaysia's green facade risks collapse without climate sincerity
Many companies aim to appear 'green', but insincerity risks losing both consumer trust and young talent by AKMAR ANNUAR GREEN is becoming a fashionable look in Malaysia in recent years. Corporations are launching 'eco-friendly' campaigns, developers are advertising 'sustainable living', and government-linked companies (GLCs) frequently cite environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments in glossy reports. However, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, much of it is smoke and mirrors. 'Greenwashing is real. You poke the façade, and sometimes, there is nothing behind it,' he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR). In an interview following the release of his book Saving the Planet: Climate and Environmental Lessons from Malaysia and Beyond, he spoke candidly about the country's climate policies, corporate accountability and the urgent need to align words with action. 'Everyone wants to be seen as 'green' now but we need to measure sincerity. It becomes a a problem if it is just a marketing gimmick. 'And it is not just about losing customers — companies could lose talent, too. The younger generation is watching,' he said. Nik Nazmi warned that performative sustainability is failing the country and its people. At the heart of his concern is what he calls Malaysia's paradox: A country rich in biodiversity but also reliant on emissions-heavy industries, such as palm oil, and oil and gas (O&G), to fuel its development. The challenge, he said, is not choosing between development and sustainability: Instead, it is in making sure one does not undermine the other. Nik Nazmi said as a middle-income country, Malaysians need homes, jobs and food. 'We cannot just shut things down overnight like the developed world wants us to, but we also cannot afford to delay action,' he said. Climate change does not win you elections here. It is not a headline issue like cost of living. But the irony is, these issues are connected. Environmental degradation affects water supply, food security and public health. It is all part of the same ecosystem. — Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad Climate Policy in Motion Nik Nazmi, who has helmed Malaysia's environment portfolio since late 2022, said the government is making structural changes to enforce genuine climate action. Key among them is the upcoming Climate Change Act, scheduled for tabling this year. The law is expected to set out binding commitments for emissions reduction, including mechanisms for large-scale polluters to phase out harmful practices or pay penalties. The government is also introducing a national adaptation plan next year to improve Malaysia's resilience — especially in the face of rising sea levels, extreme weather and biodiversity loss. Last year, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act was passed in the Parliament, targeting the country's largest energy consumers and mandating efficiency standards that are expected to reduce overall carbon emissions. These efforts are part of the country's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, although Nik Nazmi admitted that getting there will not be straightforward. In Saving the Planet, Nik Nazmi acknowledges the difficult road ahead, writing that Malaysia's geographic and economic identity places it in a precarious position. 'Malaysia is tropical, middle-income and a megadiverse. That makes us uniquely positioned — and uniquely vulnerable,' he said. With over 4,600km of coastline, the country is already feeling the brunt of the triple planetary crisis — climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Annual floods, deadly landslides, extreme heat events and worsening haze are not future risks, but current realities. 'Floods are happening more frequently. Heatwaves are getting worse. Human-wildlife conflict is on the rise. You cannot say this is distant anymore, it is here. And yet, he added, the country's political landscape is still catching up. 'Climate change does not win you elections here. It is not a headline issue like cost of living. But the irony is, these issues are connected. Environmental degradation affects water supply, food security and public health. It is all part of the same ecosystem,' he said. Natural disaster such as deadly landslides are not future risks, but current realities (pic: MEDIA MULIA) Holding Polluters Accountable While Malaysia has signed onto various global climate pacts, enforcement has long been a weak link. Nik Nazmi admitted as much, but shared that his ministry has made progress. 'We have taken illegal water polluters to court and we have also amended the Environmental Quality Act to increase maximum penalties — now up to RM10 million,' he said, but added that going after small factories alone is not enough. Big corporations must also feel the weight of their actions and Malaysia must have the tools to act — not just warnings and fines, but real regulatory frameworks. This also includes ensuring that sustainability disclosures are more than just green-tinted public relations. 'Too often, companies claim they are carbon neutral because they bought offsets. But where is the data? Where is the commitment to reducing emissions at the source?' he asked. Part of the challenge, Nik Nazmi argued, is overcoming the global North-South divide in climate diplomacy. In his book, he criticises the double standards that place disproportionate burdens on developing countries like Malaysia. 'We have only been extracting O&G for 70 years. Meanwhile, countries like the US and the UK have been polluted for over a century. You cannot expect us to stop first,' he said. The same logic applies to Malaysia's palm oil sector, which has long been in the crosshairs of environmental activists. 'Yes, there have been deforestation concerns, but palm oil remains the most efficient vegetable oil in terms of yield. Replacing it with soy or rapeseed will not necessarily help. The key is sustainable certification and regulation — not blanket bans,' he added. On the global stage, Malaysia continues to push for climate justice — the idea that historical polluters should finance and support green transitions in the Global South. This includes engaging with major carbon emitters that have walked away from multilateral commitments. 'We will engage the US regardless of who is in the White House. It has a historical responsibility to lead, not retreat,' Nik Nazmi said. According to Nik Nazmi, our ancestors built stilt houses not just as traditions but as adaptations (source: A Book Between the Noise Amid the policy talk and public duties, Nik Nazmi's decision to publish Saving the Planet — part memoir, part policy reflection — might seem unusual. But for him, it was a conscious move to bridge the gap between public understanding and high-level policymaking. 'It is not a textbook, it is written for the general reader. If we want action, we need awareness, and books are one way to reach people outside press conferences and policy briefings,' he said. In one section, he writes candidly about not being an environmental expert when he first took office. Instead, he leaned on conversations with scientists, civil society groups and communities on the ground. Writing the book was part of his learning process which helped him understand what is at stake. Nik Nazmi also dedicated a chapter to religion and cultural heritage, arguing that sustainability is not a foreign concept but deeply embedded in Malaysia's civilizational values. 'Islam, like many faiths, teaches stewardship. Our ancestors built stilt houses and wore breathable batik for a reason. These are not just traditions — they are adaptations,' he said. What's Next? Despite the legislative progress, Nik Nazmi knows that laws alone will not fix everything. What's needed, he said, is a cultural shift: In business, government and public consciousness. 'It cannot just be about slogans. That era is over. We need to be honest with ourselves — are we serious about change or are we just painting everything green?' he said. As Malaysia moves closer to becoming a high-income nation, Nik Nazmi believes the country has a unique opportunity to lead — not by copying Western models, but by offering one rooted in tropical resilience, social justice and sincerity. 'We will not get everything right but we need to mean what we say, because the planet is watching, and so are our children,' he said. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
